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Week 5 Highlights
Player of the WeekGarrett Delory, La Salle: The senior quarterback completed 10 of 17 passes for 255 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Cadets to a 46-20 victory against Niskayuna.

Play of the Week
Shenendehowa senior defensive tackle Chris Stewart deflected a screen pass and snared the rebound, returning the interception 44 yards to the Ballston Spa 1 to set up a 1-yard touchdown pass from Teddy Van Galen to Alex DeRusso as the Plainsmen took command and went on to post a 37-20 win over the Scotties.

Game of the WeekShenendehowa 37, Ballston Spa 20: The Scotties ended the shutout streak the Plainsmen with a touchdown on their opening possession, but Shen proceeded to reel off the next 34 points to improve to 5-0 overall and 4-0 in the Empire Division.

Week 6 Game to WatchCBA at Shenendehowa: The final regular-season home game for Shen coach Brent Steuerwald against his alma mater is for first place in the Empire Division standings.

Around Class AA
Success has been a faithful companion for coach Al Rapp since he arrived at La Salle in 2000. The Cadets won the Section II Class A title that season, advanced the Class A Super Bowl in 2001 and captured Class AA titles in 2005, 2007 and 2008. Before Rapp arrived, La Salle was 0-6 in the playoffs. The Cadets have won 16 of 21 Section II playoff games since.

The 2010 season, however, proved to be an anomaly — a 2-7 season and no Class AA playoff berth.

Last week at home against Niskayuna, the Cadets took a big step toward a return to the playoffs with a 46-20 victory over Niskayuna in Liberty Division action. La Salle (3-2, 2-1) won for the third time in four games and leads Class AA in scoring with 232 points.

“The line has become a lot better, and our defense has improved,” Rapp said. “The offense was really going well right now and it will need to continue.”

“Over the summer, we all took a vow that we would as hard as we could with weight lifting, 7 on 7 camps, lineman challenges and team camps,” La Salle junior two-way standout Gabriel Smith said. “We are starting to become the team we thought we could be.”

Since dropping a 43-29 decision to Christian Brothers Academy in Week 1, La Salle has scored 58, 51, 48 and 46 points. Against Niskayuna, senior quarterback Garrett Delory threw for 255 yards and three touchdowns to help stake the Cadets to a commanding 46-6 lead in the fourth quarter.

Rapp knows Shaker and Schenectady are very physical squads that pose plenty of problems for his smaller squad.

“It would be nice to make the playoffs after being 2-7 last year,” Rapp said. “The kids are gaining confidence and getting better.”

Quick hitters: Despite a superlative performance by Ballston Spa senior slotback Jordan Davis, Shenendehowa emerged with its fifth victory with a solid 37-20 Empire Division triumph over the Scotties. Davis turned a fourth-and-1 run in the first quarter into a 19-yard touchdown scamper — the first points allowed by the Plainsmen this season. Shenendehowa (5-0, 4-0) proceeded to score the next 34 points. Tony Fusco rushed for 124 yards and two touchdowns, senior quarterback Teddy Van Galen completed 11 of 14 passes for 165 yards and three touchdowns and senior defensive tackle Chris Stewart turned a key interception late in the second quarter to help set up a touchdown just before intermission. Davis led the Scotties (4-1, 3-1) with 177 yards on 10 carries. He scored all three touchdowns for Ballston Spa, plus returned the opening kickoff 63 to set up his first score. … Bethlehem quarterback John Gosstola scored on two rushing touchdowns in the first quarter and connected with Trey Silver on a 30-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter to help Eagles (2-3, 2-3) keep their playoff hopes alive with a 42-14 win against Albany (0-5, 0-5) in the Empire Division. Mike Graves rushed for 109 yards as Bethlehem led 35-0 at halftime. … Earl Ricketts ran for 105 yards and two touchdowns and the defense forced seven turnovers, helping Christian Brothers Academy (5-0, 4-0) record a 41-14 victory over Saratoga in the Empire Division. The Brothers led just 14-7 at halftime before the Brothers scored four of the five touchdowns over the final 24 minutes. Cameron Wynn rushed for 83 yards and two touchdowns and Torey Williams led the defense with two interceptions for CBA. Brandon Bogardus led the Blue Streaks (1-4, 1-3) with three receptions for 50 yards and one touchdown. … Hassan Rainey rushed for 96 yards, including a vital 19-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, to help lead Schenectady (2-3, 2-1) to an important 21-19 victory over Shaker (2-3, 2-1) in Liberty Division action. Shaker led 12-7 in the second quarter on touchdown runs by Tyler Oppelt and Ryan Griffin. The Patriots grabbed a 15-12 lead late in the second quarter on a 1-yard touchdown run by Felix Rodriguez and a two-point conversion pass from Kwame Jarvis to Jallah Tarver. The loss was the third straight for the Blue Bison and the win by Schenectady created a three-way tie for second in the division behind Columbia (4-1, 3-1). … Guilderland opened up a 36-0 lead by halftime and cruised to a 43-6 triumph over Colonie in an interdivision game. The Dutchmen (2-3, 2-2) now face must-win Empire Division contests against Albany (0-5, 0-5) and Bethlehem (2-3, 2-3).

Around Class AWeek 5 Highlights
Player of the WeekRaheem Felder, Troy: The senior quarterback rushed for three touchdowns and connected on all four of his pass attempts — including touchdown strikes of 49 and 33 yards to Daquan Holmes — in a 48-7 victory over Bishop Maginn.

Play of the Week
Known for his defensive exploits, Burnt Hills senior middle linebacker Dylan Wydronkowski sure made the most of his only carry Saturday against Glens Falls — bursting up the middle for a 70-yard touchdown in the third quarter as the Spartans registered a 29-7 triumph over the Indians in the Northwest Division.

Game of the WeekMohonasen 28, Scotia 22: The Mighty Warriors took a significant step toward reaching the playoffs by holding off the Tartans in a Southeast Division contest Friday. It was the third win this season for Mohonasen, matching its entire output from the previous four years (3-31).

Week 6 Game to WatchTroy at Lansingburgh: The Flying Horses (5-0, 4-0), ranked No. 4 in the state, hit the road for the fifth time this season with a crucial Southeast Division with the Knights (4-1, 3-1).

Around Class A
Burnt Hills coach Matt Shell wondered what the midseason break from the Class A Northwest Division schedule would provide the Spartans. He was even more intrigued after watching his team commit seven turnovers in a 23-7 loss at Amsterdam in Week 2.

The Spartans proceeded to post victories over Class AA foes Schenectady (34-12) and Shaker (21-14) in Week 3 and 4. Burnt Hills pushed its winning streak to three games Saturday with a 29-7 verdict over Glens Falls.

“There is no question those games were valuable for us,” Shell said of the two Class AA encounters. “We were playing teams outside of Class A and teams the kids weren’t familiar with. We worked hard and played well in those games.”

“We lost a lot of kids from last year,” Burnt Hills senior middle linebacker Dylan Wydronkowski said. “The Amsterdam loss wasn’t a best, but that game is in the past. I think the last three weeks have helped the younger guys get more comfortable.”

Junior quarterback Ryan McDonnell scored on runs of 1 and 38 yards in the first half, Wydronkowski found the end zone with a 70-yard run on his only carry and senior Tom Ruppel scored his fourth touchdown in two weeks with a 2-yard TD run in the fourth quarter.

The Spartans (4-1, 2-1), ranked No. 19 in the state, will be looking to secure the No. 2 seed from the Northwest Division with wins against South Glens Falls (0-5, 0-3) and Queensbury (3-2, 2-2).

Quick hitters: Troy used three rushing touchdowns and two touchdowns passing from senior quarterback Raheem Felder to post a 48-7 victory over Bishop Maginn in the Southeast Division. Felder scored on a pair of 1-yard TD runs in the first half to help stake the Flying Horses (5-0, 4-0) to a 21-0 advantage. The third touchdown of the first half came on a 49-yard pass from Felder to senior wide receiver Daquan Holmes. Troy scored 27 points in third quarter, including a 33-yard touchdown catch and a 38-yard punt return by Holmes. Joe Shelby led the defense with 2 1/2 sacks for Troy. Matthias McKinnon rushed for 176 yards and one touchdown to pace the Golden Griffins (3-2, 2-2). … Nick Ketter continued his touchdown rampage, this time scoring three rushing touchdowns, to help propel Queensbury to a 34-7 triumph over South Glens Falls in the Northwest Division. Ketter, who registered seven touchdown receptions in the first three weeks, recorded his second straight three-TD rushing performance to pace the Spartans (3-2, 3-1). Ketter, who led Queensbury with 99 yards rushing scored on runs of 11 and 27 yards in the third quarter as the Spartans extended a 12-7 halftime edge to 26-7 entering the final 12 minutes. … Mohonasen (3-2, 3-2) captured its second straight Southeast Division victory with a 28-22 decision over Scotia (1-4, 1-4). The Mighty Warriors expanded their 21-14 halftime lead on a 26-yard touchdown pass from Killian Tallman to Eric Pierione in the third quarter. Andrew Tabbert rushed for 94 yards to lead Scotia… Amsterdam played a scoreless first quarter at Gloversville before erupting for 22 points in the second stanza, helping the Rugged Rams post a 35-3 verdict over the Huskies in the Northwest Division. Brett Stanavich rushed for 160 yards and three touchdowns for the Rugged Rams (5-0, 5-0). Quarterback Vinny Sobkowich rushed for two touchdowns and Matt White contributed a 73-yard punt for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Gloversville (1-4, 1-4) received a 32-yard field goal from David Vandenabeele in the second quarter. … Lansingburgh sophomore wingback Anthony Walker rushed for 178 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Knights to a 28-8 Southeast Division win against Green Tech. Lansingburgh (4-1, 3-1) led 20-0 at halftime and allowed a third-quarter touchdown to the Eagles (0-5, 0-5). … Columbia junior running back Chris Smith carried the ball 20 times for 154 yards and one touchdown and Connor Ramon hauled in a 31-yard touchdown pass from John Stanley in the third quarter to provide some breathing room as the Blue Devils posted a 29-13 win over Averill Park in a contest between Rensselaer County rivals. The Blue Devils (4-1) led 16-14 at intermission. Jonas Goodell added a 3-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter for Columbia. Kevin Otty caught touchdown passes of 27 and 50 yards from quarterback Taylor Hotaling to lead the Warriors (2-3).

LOl..didn’t realize that..My bad James! Just TU needs to give it a rest with BH….maybe someone can write an article on the number 1 team then? Make sense? It’s just a joke how much TU gives them… let me guess, it was “fluke” the past 5 weeks?